Auto theft ring mastermind gets 15 years

TRENTON — A South Amboy man was sentenced Monday to 15 years in state prison for supervising an auto theft ring that stole more than 100 vehicles worth a total of over $550,000.

“By organizing this stolen vehicle ring, this defendant deprived many hard-working contractors, plumbers, electricians and painters of their essential resources,” acting Attorney General John Hoffman said in a press release. “The lengthy prison sentence imposed today is reflective of the serious nature of the crime.”

Jose Lopez, 33, had pled guilty to first-degree promotion of organized street crime, second-degree leader of auto theft trafficking network, second-degree operation of a facility for the sale of stolen automobiles and third-degree conspiracy. Superior Court Judge Dennis Nieves of Middlesex County sentenced Lopez to 15 years in prison Monday in accordance with that plea agreement.

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According to the plea, Lopez admitted that between June 2012 and June 2013 he promoted organized street crime by conspiring to steal 104 vehicles in Middlesex County. Among the vehicles stolen were multiple Honda passenger vehicles, Ford contractor vans, a trailer and a Suzuki Hayabusa motorcycle. Prosecutors believe Lopez had the Hondas stripped of their parts and sold; they also believe he sold the contents of the vans, which were mainly contractor’s tools.

Lopez arranged to have several of the stolen vehicles scrapped, prosecutors say, but since some scrapyards do not accept vehicles without titles, Lopez forged nearly 100 vehicle titles using a digital scanner and typewriter.

When Lopez was arrested, police found the typewriter used to forge New Jersey vehicle titles, a digital scanner with a “blank” New Jersey title, dozens of altered New Jersey titles, receipts for scrapped vehicles, numerous vehicle ignition systems, vehicle identification number plates, stolen contractors’ tools, multiple cell phones, vehicle GPS units and several laptop computers.

“These types of rings affect not only the owners of the stolen vehicles, but also all New Jerseyans who pay car insurance, by increasing the premiums all of us pay for car insurance,” Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Ronald Chillemi said. “Such criminal activity will not be tolerated in New Jersey.”